Letters to the Churches

Concerning the eating then of the things sacrificed to idols, we have known that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is no other God except one;

for even if there are those called gods, whether in heaven, whether upon earth--as there are gods many and lords many--

yet to us is one God, the Father, of whom are the all things, and we to Him; and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are the all things, and we through Him;

but not in all men is the knowledge, and certain with conscience of the idol, till now, as a thing sacrificed to an idol do eat it , and their conscience, being weak, is defiled.

But victuals do not commend us to God, for neither if we may eat are we in advance; nor if we may not eat, are we behind;

but see, lest this privilege of yours may become a stumbling-block to the infirm,

for if any one may see thee that hast knowledge in an idol's temple reclining at meat--shall not his conscience--he being infirm--be emboldened to eat the things sacrificed to idols,

and the brother who is infirm shall perish by thy knowledge, because of whom Christ died?

and thus sinning in regard to the brethren, and smiting their weak conscience--in regard to Christ ye sin;

wherefore, if victuals cause my brother to stumble, I may eat no flesh--to the age--that my brother I may not cause to stumble.

Am not I an apostle? am not I free? Jesus Christ our Lord have I not seen? my work are not ye in the Lord?

if to others I am not an apostle--yet doubtless to you I am; for the seal of my apostleship are ye in the Lord.

My defence to those who examine me in this;

have we not authority to eat and to drink?

have we not authority a sister--a wife--to lead about, as also the other apostles, and the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?

or only I and Barnabas, have we not authority--not to work?

who doth serve as a soldier at his own charges at any time? who doth plant a vineyard, and of its fruit doth not eat? or who doth feed a flock, and of the milk of the flock doth not eat?

According to man do I speak these things? or doth not also the law say these things?

for in the law of Moses it hath been written, `thou shalt not muzzle an ox treading out corn;' for the oxen doth God care?

or because of us by all means doth He say it ? yes, because of us it was written, because in hope ought the plower to plow, and he who is treading ought of his hope to partake in hope.

If we to you the spiritual things did sow--great is it if we your fleshly things do reap?

if others do partake of the authority over you--not we more? but we did not use this authority, but all things we bear, that we may give no hindrance to the good news of the Christ.

Have ye not known that those working about the things of the temple--of the temple do eat, and those waiting at the altar--with the altar are partakers?

so also did the Lord direct to those proclaiming the good news: of the good news to live.

And I have used none of these things; neither did I write these things that it may be so done in my case, for it is good for me rather to die, than that any one may make my glorying void;